Firefighters recognized during council meeting

Several Jacksonville Fire Department firefighters were recognized during Monday’s City Council meeting.

Fire Chief Doug Sills thanked the city for its support over the years and recognized Jacksonville Police Chief Adam Mefford and Emergency Management Director Phil McCarty for working so closely with the fire department during the past year.

“At no other time have our public service agencies worked and trained together as closely as we do now as we prepare for responses we hope never occur here in our community,” Sills said.

Driver/engineer Gary Hayes was recognized for retiring after 20 years of service with the department and for his fundraising efforts. Hoseman Gary Knapp was recognized for retiring after 25 years with the department.

Capt. Beth Kershaw received a 25-year service award, while firefighter Curt Rueter was promoted to the rank of driver/engineer and received a 10-year service award.

Ricky Padilla also was sworn in as the newest firefighter to join the department’s ranks.

In other business, the council approved a $213,685 bid from Kinney Contractors of Raymond to replace the aging stretch of 4-inch transite water main on Crabtree Road with 6-inch PVC pipe. The first phase of the work also will replace a portion of the water main from North Webster Avenue, just south of the railroad tracks, to Maple Street.

Phase 2 will include the rest of North Webster Avenue, from Maple to Walnut Street. Construction is expected to begin in mid-October; Phase 2 should begin in the spring.

The council also passed a resolution affirming the city’s support of civil rights and opposition to racism and discrimination of all kinds. Alderman Tony Williams expressed the importance of reaffirming the city’s stance against discrimination.

“I think that people need to know from outside our city how we feel,” Williams said. “That we believe in protecting everyone’s rights, that there is no one that we find less, that their lives shouldn’t be protected. That’s one of the reasons that we’re doing it. We want to make sure anybody that comes into (this) city, that they’re valuable to us.”

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.